The implementation of Texas State Senate Bill 924 has sparked a necessity for several counties to expand their array of polling locations ahead of the 2024 elections. Among these counties are Dallas, Collin, and Grayson, which have previously utilized the Countywide Polling Place (CWPP) program.
Under the CWPP program, voters are afforded the convenience of casting their ballots at any polling location within their respective county. However, the enactment of Senate Bill 924 mandates a revision in how these counties determine their voting sites.
Concerns have arisen among election leaders regarding the feasibility of locating a sufficient number of voting venues and recruiting an ample workforce to manage them. Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson’s website outlines the operational framework of the program: initially, her office selects six counties with populations exceeding 100,000 and four counties with populations below that threshold. Subsequently, the success of the program is assessed, ensuring minimal complaints and no deterrence to voter participation. Counties meeting these criteria are granted permission to maintain their participation in the program.
Senate Bill 924 alters the methodology for calculating polling places within CWPP-participating counties. As reported by the Texas Tribune, this necessitates the addition and staffing of more polling locations, a task deemed challenging and financially burdensome by some election officials.